New Innovation for Food Allergy Screening

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- FoodSCAN, the latest advancement in food intolerance testing, has been launched in the United States by York Nutritional Laboratories, Inc. With 70-80% of the chronically ill population in the US & Canada currently suffering from medical conditions either caused and/or aggravated by a food sensitivity, it is anticipated that for many this laboratory innovation, which has been available throughout Europe for many years, will be the key to gaining optimal health.

"This is the first food intolerance test made available in the United States which is convenient, reliable and able to be done inexpensively in the comfort of one's home or place of business," says John Kernohan, President of York Nutritional Laboratories, Inc.

Using a unique food allergy test kit, patients simply prick the end of their own finger to collect the tiny sample of blood required for testing. According to Martha Gonzalez, York Nutritional Laboratories' Operations Manager, "The absorbent wand safely preserves the drop of blood until it reaches the laboratory, which is then tested against 93 foods. All the patient needs to do is send his or her sample back to us in the compact postage-paid return mailer we provide. Within 10 days the test results and support materials are shipped directly to the patient. In addition, we provide unlimited telephone and Internet support at no extra cost!"

Internationally renowned allergy guru and Medical Consultant to York Nutritional Laboratories, James Braly, M.D., author of the best selling book "Food Allergy Relief" (Keats Publishing, 2000), has spent 17 years searching for a lab test this accurate, reproducible and convenient. Dr. Braly comments, "By using the IgG ELISA technique, at the same time eliminating the need for a blood draw, this test represents a great step forward in the field of food allergy screening. It removes the barriers of poor reproducibility and inconvenience that continues to plague competing tests. I am delighted to be part of the innovative team offering this convenient testing service to sufferers of chronic illnesses and conditions."

Background Notes:

The analysis uses the proven IgG ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) technique, which works by measuring levels of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in a person's blood. A detected increase in the IgG antibody indicates a reaction to a particular food.

Each person's individual metabolism, health and eating habits mean they have different food intolerance profiles, making the test necessary. There is no single cause for food intolerance. It is a multi-factorial condition.

Common conditions related to food sensitivity include: arthritis, asthma, autism, chronic fatigue, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, hyperactivity, major depression, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, sinusitis, non-seasonal rhinitis, middle-ear disease, weight changes & obesity, hives and eczema.

Information about the FoodSCAN is available from York Nutritional Laboratories, Inc.